Philippine military increases patrols in disputed Spratly Islands

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has its increased patrols in the Philippine-held portions of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, local news outlet The Manila Times reports.

AFP Spokesman Colonel Xerxes Trinidad told reporters late last week that the patrols in the waters off two Philippine-occupied islands in the Spratlys were focused on surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Trinidad said that these recent patrols commenced on Wednesday, June 4.

The patrols were conducted in the waters off West York and Northeast Cay, which are claimed by Manila and are officially known as Likas and Parola in Philippine Government documentation.

The Philippine Navy patrol ship BRP Andres Bonifacio was deployed for the patrols, during which it also resupplied forward-deployed units on the two islands.

Bonifacio's crew also reported sighting a Chinese vessel during one patrol in those same waters. However, details on the vessel's identity were not disclosed to the media.